3 days later
[Maya's POV;]
"I don't understand any of this." I sighed and out my lunch tray next to my textbook. "Why is chemistry so hard?"
Farkle picked up my book and flipped through the pages as I took my seat between him and Riley. "Come on, Maya. It's really not that difficult."
I glared at him and took a bite of my celery stick. "Not all of us can be scientists."
Riley looked up from her phone and placed her hand on my shoulder. "We're getting assigned lab partners today and I'm sure that whoever you're paired with, me, would be happy to help you understand."
"Thanks honey." I smiled and pushed my hair behind my ear. "What are you guys doing tonight?"
"It's the first game of the season. I kind of have to be there." Riley pushed her mac n' cheese around her plate.
I thought for a few moments before it clicked. "Oh yeah, I always seem to forget that you're a cheerleader." My eyes wandered over to the table next to us and the settled on the view of Missy Bradford sitting on Lucas' lap. "It's hard to remember that you're actually friends with that bloodsucking demon."
"Are you coming or what?"
"I'll go if Farkle goes." I smirked and looked over at him "What do you say?"
Farkle shook his floppy hair. "You know I don't like sporting events. I somehow always get hit by the ball."
"If the ball comes for you, I'll take it and throw it right back at their big meaty heads. Okay Minkus?" He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "This type of thing is important to Riley and it's our job to support her no matter how stupid it is."
"Fine, but only for Riley."
We discussed our plans for tonight's events. Everything was peachy until a bulldozer in a pink sweater interrupted us.
"Hey Riles, I couldn't help but notice that you were sitting here... with them," Missy shot me a fake smile and I rolled my eyes. "It's game day why don't you sit with us."
Riley looked up at Missy and then back at me. "I always sit with them."
"Yeah I know. And it's cute. But from now on, you sit with us on Fridays. Okay?"
She looked conflicted and stared at Farkle and me for a long time before picking up her tray. "You're right, at least on Game days."
"You don't have to do what she says." I glared at Missy as Riley moved over to the other table, sitting between Lucas and Zay. "Riley?"
She was too busy making heart eyes at the Huckleberry to pay attention to me. "It's nothing personal Maya. It's just that you're a loser, a trashy loser at that. Always have been always will be." Missy smirked and I looked passed her to see Lucas' face. I could not read him. I wondered what he was thinking.
I shifted my gaze back to Missy and shook my head. "You're free to sit down now."
She sat on the other side of Lucas and turned her back towards me. I looked at Farkle who had remained silent. "It'll be okay."
"Why did you let her go?" He asked, referring to Riley choosing the Populars over us. "It's not okay and you know that."
I sighed and licked my lips. "We're not her only friends. We can't hold her back." I felt something hit the back of my head. "Are they throwing carrots at me?"
Farkle nodded and shut his textbook. "It's Lucas." Another one hit me. I bit my tongue. "Breathe. You can handle this."
I took a deep breath and tried to ignore it. With each blow to the head, I heard Missy's obnoxious laugh behind me. Deciding to speak my mind, I turned around. "Throwing food? Real mature, I thought this was high school, not kindergarten."
[Lucas' POV;]
We all laughed and Zay gave me a high-five over Riley's head. "Guy's knock it off." She spoke up, but shushed her and put my arm around her shoulder.
"I think you look great with food in your hair blondie." I smirked when she shot me the death glare. "Take that as a compliment."
Missy smirked and leaned against me. "Yeah, I mean she's probably used to having stuff in her hair. It makes her look better." Maya's face started turning red.
"What the hell is your problem?" Maya stood up and glared at Missy.
The brunette let out a fake laugh and stood in front of the blonde, having to look down at her. "Let's see." She paused and twirled her hair, pretending to think. "You're hair, you shoes, your clothes, your attitude, and well you."
Riley tried to stand up, but I gently pulled her back down. "It's fine babe. Don't get involved."
Maya rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. "You are so superficial. You don't even have a real reason as to why you treat me like shit. You are just an evil person and I don't understand why anyone would ever like you."
Missy stepped closer to Maya who couldn't back up any farther without falling over the table. "You think I need a reason to be mean to you moppet? You are nothing. I don't know why Riley hangs out with you. She could really do better. She should have just left you the same way Lucas did the minute he realized you were nothing but shit."
Once I heard my name, my head shot in Missy's direction. "Alright that's enough."
She ignored me. "Face it; you're just not good enough for them."
I could tell that Maya was tired. She turned away defeated. When she knelt down to grab her bag, the unthinkable happened.
The entire cafeteria fell silent. Maya turned around and you could see the humiliation on her face. She was soaked in Missy's iced coffee.
I looked into Maya's eyes, trying to ask her if she was okay. All I saw was hurt. She wanted to cry so badly. It seemed like the entire room was laughing at her. I looked at Riley who got up to rush her friend out of the room.
Anger took over at me and I snapped my head in Missy's direction. "Why the hell did you do that?" I raised my voice.
She rolled her eyes and smirked, which only pissed me off even more. "Don't act like you care, Lucas, who cares if that little bitch gets hurt? No one."
The bell rang and everyone took their seats. Ending my conversation with Zay, I turned towards the front and noticed that the desk in front of me was empty: Maya. Mr. Matthews entered the room, laid his briefcase on his desk, and began taking attendance.
"Babineaux,"
"Sadly" I chuckled at Zay's response
He went down the line. "Friar" I raised my hand.
Mr. Matthews went from 'A' to 'G' with some type of noise being made with every name called, until he got to H.
"Hart," There was silence. He looked up from his roster and noticed the empty desk in front of me. "Where's Maya?" Riley and I shared a glance. I waited for her to say something. "Riley?"
"I don't think she'll be joining us today." She looked down at her desk. I sighed and played with my pen before raising my hand.
"Yes, Mr. Friar?"
"Can I be excused?" Mr. Matthews looked at his daughter, and then looked at me before gesturing towards the door.
I left the class and shut the door behind me. Taking out my phone, I opened a blank message.
Me: Where are you?
I put my binder and history book in my locker and paced back and forth in the deserted hallway.
Shorty: Our place
I made my way across campus to the old locker room. "Maya?" I looked in each isle of rusted lockers. Eventually I found her curled up with her back against the wall. "Are you okay?"
I slid my back down the wall and put my arm around her. She laid her head on my shoulder and I played with her soft blonde hair. "Why does she hate me so much?"
"She's jealous of you."
Maya sniffled and shook her head. "No she's not huckleberry. That is so cliché. Why would she be jealous of me when she has everything I don't?"
"You are one of the kindest people I know. And you don't have to be mean or be popular for people to like you."
She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at me. "That's still extremely cliché and you know it. I know you know Lucas. Just tell me the truth."
"I am telling you the truth." I looked down and rubbed the back of my neck.
"You're lying. You only do that when you lie so talk to me." I sighed and looked at her. "Is it really that bad?"
"You've been asking me since freshman year and I avoid it every time to protect you."
Maya crossed her arms and bit her lip. "Is it about that party?" I nodded and looked away from her. "You know nothing happened that night."
"I know that blondie." I ran my hand through my hair. "You and Austin went upstairs and didn't come down for a long time. You were drunk. He was the senior quarterback and everyone just assumed something happened."
She started shaking her head. "No..."
"He was dating Missy at the time. When I tried to confront him about it he admit that nothing happened. But he told Missy that you basically begged him."
"I knew people thought I slept with him but I didn't know that he encouraged the idea." Maya pulled her knees to her chest and her voice cracked. "And you wonder why I don't go to stupid parties very often."
"Maya, I know that you didn't do anything wrong."
She looked at me then glanced up at the ceiling. "Lucas, that's when we decided that we shouldn't be friends during school, I didn't want you to miss out on things for associating with the school slut."
"But you're not a slut. I have never once thought of you like that."
"But you did agree that us being seen together would cause problems with you and you're girlfriend of the time, remember Jaycee? She hates me just as much as Missy does."
I sighed. She was right. "I didn't think we'd get to a point where you'd end up drenched in coffee. I thought it would have blown over by now."
"It's not your fault... we both put social status above our friendship and lost track of time."
We stared at each other. Neither of us said anything and yet I could still feel her heart break. I couldn't help but feel like it was my fault that all of this happened.
